Serving Those Who Need Us Most - Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that promotes independence for combat wounded veterans and children with life-changing disabilities through partnerships with skilled assistance dogs.

CLEPP – Children’s Literacy and Education Golden PAWS Program

The Children’s Literacy and Education Golden PAWS Program (CLEPP), is specifically designed to develop a love of reading and nurture healthy reading habits for struggling students. This program has made meaningful contributions to literacy and a love of learning for children who might otherwise have slipped through the cracks. Golden PAWS brings specially trained Golden PAWS therapy dog teams into the community to promote literacy skills and provide character and citizenship educational programs. The target audience is children ages 4-12 who are in educationally disadvantaged situations, faced with low self-esteem, lack of confidence and poor social interaction skills.

PACT–PAWS Assistance Crisis Team

The PAWS Assistance Crisis Team (PACT) program provides teams that work side by side with therapists at community treatment venues providing non-judgmental canine compassion and positive interactive experiences. PACT teams also respond to crisis situations where the innocent become victims of tragic events. Golden PAWS dogs cross boundaries that humans can’t cross and they do it without words.

From an administrator at one venue: “The dogs can accomplish so much and do amazing things. It is unbelievable how they absorb and take away these clients’ pain. You can literally see on their faces the benefits of the dogs.”

SOAR – Special Operations and Recovery

Golden PAWS Recognizes that transition from military service is not complete on the date of discharge and it can take months, sometimes years for complete reintegration into the community.

The Golden PAWS Special Operations and Recovery program is geared exclusively to returning veterans as they assimilate back to civilian life. At the Golden PAWS training academy veterans find a safe, secure, and inspiring environment to build valuable skills and rebuild their lives while committing themselves to helping others through training service dogs for other veterans in need.